On a Scale of Earth to Eternity...

What's up guys?
I'm gonna be honest...Yesterday when I started this blog, and it good a good response, I started to take some of the glory for myself. I love writing, and I love processing what the Lord has taught me and putting it out online, but sometimes I forget how much of an incredible gift it is to even speak of the word of the Living God.
I'm praying as I'm typing this that the Lord does not allow anything of ME to seep into this blog-that those who read this will not pay any attention to my "style of writing" or my (attempted) wittiness..But that all that is taken away is that which has eternal weight.
Which, ironically, is what I want to write about today.

Lord, give me words to write.

Who here is a goal setter? I know I am. Guys, when I have something in mind that I want, I make pretty darn sure that I'll get there (as far as I can control). It's like a switch turns on in my brain, and all I can see is that goal. The problem with that switch is that there's no dimmer. If I let it, that goal can manifest and become an idol. let me give you a few examples in my life:
Choir-I had to be in the top choir by my sophomore year
Friends-I had to make sure I was FRIENDS with all the people in that choir
Perfection- The thought of messing up, of failing, of sinning- literally drove me insane. Every second I was worrying about what I was doing wrong. (That was a goal I never would, and never will reach, by the way).
Y'all, where is the freedom in that? I can tell you point blank I am not perfect, and it is by the GRACE of GOD that I am who I am(1 Corinthians 15:10). But I have learned lessons in the past couple years of my life-particularly my high school years so far. And I know I learned that those things held no weight-that all things will pass away. When I get to heaven, it won't matter how popular I was amongst my friends, or how well I did in choir. It just won't.
Don't misunderstand me, goals are NOT a bad thing. The Lord gives us drive and purpose for a reason..But here's what that reason is:
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." -Colossians 4:17
But WHY does God tell us to do this? Why does He tell us to glorify Him, and Him alone? I know I struggle with this. Sometimes I become selfish and I covet that glory for myself-after all, it's MY singing voice-my personality..right?
Wow, wrong. So wrong.
"DONT BE DECEIVED, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He CHOSE to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." -James 1:16-18
Wow. That is literally crazy stuff. I don't remember where I read it-Oh, Jk, I do-Matt Chandler's book, Explicit Gospel (Good read!). But basically what Chandler talks about is how GOOD God IS.
So, I really like food. A lot. And I really like chipotle.A lot. When I go to chipotle and eat until I'm about to burst, that's a gift-I mean who can argue that chipotle isn't a good thing? That's a gift from the Lord..Everything that brings us pleasure (that is not sinful, mind you) is a gift from God. When I think about all the good things God has given me, I'm amazed. I am deserving of life and eternity in HELL, and he blesses me with a home, health, family, friends, sky ranch, and chipotle. What? God's salvation ALONE should be enough, and yet He gives me all this. So who am I to not give glory to the one who gives all things?
When I became a Christian (which I don't actually know the date and time, mind you), my life was given purpose. My life suddenly had meaning. And that meaning doesn't come from things of the world-it comes from knowing that I now am living for a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28). My life no longer holds the weight of the world-it holds eternal weight. I mean really, Guys...By God's grace, I'll live to be maybe 70-75 (or whenever he takes me, no moment is promised). Why on Earth would I live for those 70-75 years when knowing I have eternity to look forward to? Man, I want to be ready. I want to be preparing myself for my actual home, not settling for what this world has.

Father God, I pray that whoever reads this is encouraged-not by my words, but by what you have spoken through me. I pray that every ounce of every single thing we do in our life goes to your name and your kingdom. Allow your word to penetrate my heart, and let me go out living with a mindset of eternity.